Pet insurance

Unfortunately all insurances seem to be rising, pet insurance being one. Personally, I think too many independent vets have been bought out by big companies - they provide state of the art equipment, but that has to be paid for, so a myriad of trials and tests are usually offered for quite trivial conditions. I speak from experience (lots of it!).
I was horrified to find DD2 paying M&S £80 a month for her dog - several years ago too! When she got another to keep him company M&S did a package for 2, which, strangely, reduced the overall cost. The elder is gone now, sadly PTS, but she’s stayed with M&S. The trouble with pet insurance is it rises as the animal ages and by a certain age, it’s actually impossible to change provider.
DH and I kept multiple dogs for years and never bothered with insurance and just picked up whatever bills (including some operations) when necessary. We bought wormers and flea treatments online - brand names for a fraction of the vet price and she was happy to provide prescriptions for us to source any meds online too.
I suppose the answer is to shop around and you might save a few pounds, but check you’re getting like for like.

I'm in the same boat as you Ginster. I have two cats and their Tesco insurance went up from £50 last year to £125 this year! I'd love to find a cheaper provider but as one cat is 14 I'd never get cover with anyone else so I have to grin and bear it. Not sure what I'll do if it doubles again next year!

Please, I don't want to het shot down over my reply, and I know it may sound odd.
I know Pet Insurance, along with all other types, is very expensive. But, I just wondered how our parents coped?
We always had a variety of animals, but I do not remember them paying any insurance.
Did they rely on old remedies? Or were pets more hardy, nearly always of the mongrel type? and happy to find a good, kind home.

A bit of everything you say Auntieflo. Such a lot of interbreeding these days, often producing random, sometimes bizarre cross breeds (aka designer dogs) has brought a myriad of health problems to attention, especially the teacups and snub nosed types.
Like human medicine, there’s been huge advancements in identifying and treating (at huge cost) disease and illnesses that would have animals PTS without question years ago. The cost of this research and the equipment to treat animals has to be paid for and I believe it’s partly recouped through insurance claims.
Whoever would have thought an animal could undergo chemo? I hate to add, not always in the animal’s best interest.
It would take an extremely wealthy person, or a huge bank loan to tackle such treatment without insurance.
I also think that pets are considered an important part of the family these days - as a friend for the children, something to care for for a singleton, companionship for an older person or, dare I say, even a child substitute. I know a lot of young couples who have chosen to have a dog or cat before children are on the scene.
I also think that advertising pet insurance also has an effect on new owners - it’s inexpensive at first, then as the animal ages and premiums rise, people are too far committed to be able to cancel.

As I wrote upthread, we never had any of our dogs insured - we had 10 at one time! DH was perfectly capable of routine care, like trimming nails, administering meds we bought online both with and without prescription. However, we paid up to identify and treat some illnesses and operations as required and know we ‘saved’ over having insurance - but like all insurances, it’s a gamble. Despite our preference, DD1 had
insurance for her cat, which was never needed during his lifetime. DD2 has had insurance for both her dogs from buying them as puppies.

Sorry I’ve waffled a bit.

I have never had health insurance for any of my pets. Initially they were cats of unknown origin and latterly they have been dogs of unknown origin. I have only ever had one very expensive procedure to pay for (a ruptured cruciate ligament) and my current dog has a thyroid problem which requires daily medication and, every six months, a blood test. I knew this when I adopted her. I am fortunate in being able to afford whatever treatment is needed, but I think most people are probably better off putting aside a sum each month to cover veterinary expenses rather than taking out insurance. Most veterinary practices offer a plan whereby the cost of vaccinations can be spread over twelve months and which also covers worming and flea treatments, nail clipping and six-monthly checkups. That, I think, is good value.

I had a friend who put a small amount aside every month, it was specifically for her dog. Luckily the dog lived healthily till old age and died peacefully. She was then able to use the fund she had accumulated for a private surgery thereby missing a long queue.

We're with Waggle. The best thing about it is the unlimited free video calls with a vet. The animal is usually seen within 15 minutes, you select the vet, and they give you a report at the end of the consultation and tell you whether they advise a trip to your own vet.

Ours has gone up from £49. To £93. We had a claim for quite a big bill but less than £600 and they say that is why the premium has risen so much. We have to pay an excess of £250. Strange we do not get a reduction for all 8 of our non- claiming years. It is win win for the insurance companies.

Thankyou. This has made me re think having insurance.

It seems sensible just to put money aside each month. I think I’ll go down that route.

Thanks again 🐶

Vet bills can very quickly rack up into the thousands - even if you put aside a small amount each month, it may not cover the bills in an emergency. Also, worth bearing in mind that if you have a dog, pet insurance will include third party cover in the event that your dog causes an accident involving someone else.
And re the chemo - I personally wouldn't put an animal through it, but I have a friend whose spaniel had cancer and she actually remortgaged her house to pay for the treatment!

Mine are insured at great expense. I’ll stay with it because vet bills increase steadily. I paid £106 for a twenty min consultation that included dye into the dogs eyes to ensure only an infection rather than damage. It was my grand dog , daughter away on holiday. Lovely vet most apologetic about costs. Treatment a biological eye drop used for humans. Her practuce tajen over, only allowed to buy drugs from one supplier £60. I could buy a prescription from her for £22 and go to the chemist
The pharmacist told me she’d pretend she hadn’t seen the prescription to avoid me paying the £9 for private prescription. So I bought the treatment for £6.30
Had the dog been insured I’d probably have paid the £80 excess and got the meds from the vet. She was great with little M dog and apologised - I didn’t spend five years training to charge you £60 for eye drops she said